Beyond the Headlines: Women in Business

Show topic: Professional BusinessWomen of CA

April 19, 2010 8:24:53 PM PDT

ABC7's Emmy award-winning public affairs show, "Beyond the Headlines," provides in-depth coverage of the topics and issues facing the people of the Bay Area. Throughout the year, "Beyond the Headlines" airs half-hour specials on issues, ranging from Bay Area housing to same-sex marriage.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES April 18, 2010 Hosted by ABC7's Cheryl Jennings Show topic: Professional BusinessWomen of California

This week's episode talks about the status of working women in business, and we'll hear about an organization that helps women further their careers.

That executive glass ceiling in California's biggest companies is still tough for women to break through. A UC Davis Graduate School of Management study shows that of the state's top 400 publicly traded firms:

Women hold only about 10% of Executive Officer or Board Seats.

Nearly one-third of the companies have no women in top positions at all.

Less than 4% have female CEOs.

The Bay Area has the highest number of female directors: San Francisco 15.7%

The Bay Area also has the lowest number: Santa Clara 8.2%

The Professional BusinessWomen of California (PBWC) offers women an opportunity to connect, network, be inspired, and learn from each other. This year's PBWC Conference features a full day of various workshops, seminars, keynote speeches, expo and an inspiring luncheon. Keynote speakers include actress/producer and gender equality advocate Geena Davis, author/physician Dr. Ian Smith, and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Sheryl WuDunn, author of Half the Sky.

In addition, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, San Francisco's First Lady, will host the "Young Women's Summit," an instructional and mentoring program for high school girls and young women. The "Senior Executive Program: Connecting Experienced Women Leaders" is another specialized program that offers a unique opportunity for senior executive women to meet and build relationships with their peers at other organizations to accelerate results in work and personal life.